Page 15 of Burning for You

Caro

“Caro, I didn’t tell the Street Messenger! I didn’t tell Zac about our plan. Whoever he found it out from, it didn’t make any difference.”

My fiancé is supposed to be in a teleconference with Bozeman Airport, now that he catches me near his office, he looks eager to continue our argument which we started downstairs. Josh and I were meeting with the NYC Department of City Planning to discuss our proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from pre-1980s buildings. Then, one of the department people asked about Zac Moss’ article on the shake-up of Brilliance ownership. I kept my cool, not denying, not confirming, but as soon as those people left, I lashed out at Josh—because I knew he was the only one who could’ve leaked it.

Luckily we were on level 35, where foot traffic is scarce. Except for the two guys acting like Jay and Silent Bob. While the shorter one seemed to be in a hurry, the tall one was rooted to the spot like a fox stunned by onrushing headlights.

“It didn’t make a difference?” I challenge Josh. “Have you seen the share price? I’m not going to buy them at an inflated rate, if that’s what you were planning all along!”

“I want you to buy my shares. Why would I try to make it difficult?” Josh says, trying to grab my hand.

I shake my head, a warning. I don’t even want to see his face, let alone be touched by him. I came to this floor to see his secretary to thank her for buying me a soup—she found out I hadn’t eaten since I left San Francisco last night. But Liz seems to have disappeared.

Josh continues reasoning with me. “The hike is a fluke, and our deal stands at the agreed price. I guarantee. Come on, Caro. The city needs you. What did you say? Improving lives and the environment, one condo at a time?”

I believe in Brilliance for that.

It’s for that reason, too, that my dad agreed to form a partnership with me to buy out fifty-one percent of Brilliance—there’s no way on earth I could’ve come up with six hundred million on my own. He’ll be a silent partner, so I pretty much have control of the deal. After Dad’s out-and-out rejection of Sass by Caro seven years ago, followed by the debacle with Anton Mendez, I’m glad my dad and I are slowly getting back to good terms.

Whether Albert Meyer supports the buying of Brilliance because he wants to win back my heart, or for business reasons, I know building a better New York is a vision that we share. He was once a slum boy. It took him half a century to build his multi-billion-dollar empire, but he never forgets where he came from.

I know our investment will be profitable in the long run. The biggest question I have is: Do I believe in Josh?

And the man is waiting for an answer. I simply say, “We haven’t finalized anything. Besides, I’m gonna be your wife, not your bank.”

Josh’s chest rises. “This isn’t about the shares. You just don’t trust me, do you? About anything! What did you say when I got home from Boston? That I smelled like a bitch?”

I gape, admiring how tenacious my fiancé is in avoiding responsibility. Yes, I suspected an affair after sensing a Samsara scent on his shirt last week, but I’ve put that behind me. What I’m having a problem with right now is that he lied to me about Zac Moss, whom I know is one of Josh’s friends.

“You want to scrap the deal? You want a break-up, too?” Josh snatches my wrist, aiming at my engagement ring.

I pull myself away. I’ve gotta give it to this man. He doesn’t hesitate to go on an all-out attack, even though he knows he needs me. He’s not a beggar, he’s not an ass-sucker. Perhaps it’s a sign that he genuinely wants me, not just my money.

I huff, reminding myself how much work I’ve put into this relationship. It’s just over a year, but it feels like a decade. My engagement to Josh…everyone says it’s second-time lucky. For me, it’s second-time learning my lessons. Looking back, I had been an incurably demanding partner and a hot-and-cold lover. At times I had gotten my priorities wrong, blinded by things that shone the brightest—but in the end, they almost destroyed me.

What do I do with Josh? For now, I need to be alone or I’ll say something hurtful to him, and it won’t help either of us.

“Answer me, Caro. Don’t just walk away!” Josh keeps tailing me.

“Are you going to follow me to the bathroom?” I say.

He stops and raises his arms. “Fine. Fine. You need space. I understand.”

I usually avoid the ladies’ room on this floor. Unlike the ones on the other floors, the light sensor is temperamental. Sometimes the room goes dark even when someone is in there. But my need to get away from my fiancé trumps my fear of darkness. I push hard at the door, glancing at Josh, telling him don’t bother waiting.

Head spinning, I rest my hands on the marble vanity. My stomach is rumbling with hunger, but I couldn’t even force myself to swallow a spoonful of the minestrone soup that Josh’s secretary had bought me earlier.

Then something distracts me.

Do I smell a man in here?

It’s not a bad smell. In fact, if I’m honest, it’s a scent I’d like my own man to wear. But it doesn’t belong here.

Two cubicles are closed. I’m sure my nose is imagining things.

I look at the piles of hand towels on the vanity. Josh always believes in luxury. Those brilliant white towels look luxurious, indeed.

Supposed I fulfill my promise to buy fifty-one percent of Brilliance. What will I do?

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